# NTSB LAX96LA242: Piper PA-34-200, N507TH, Avalon, CA, June 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 1996, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Avalon, CA - Coordinates: 33.800251, -118.299514 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8003&lon=-118.2995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29480/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA242 ## Probable cause The failure of the left brake for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,partial (cause) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot reported that after touchdown on the runway the left brake failed and he lost directional control. The aircraft veered off the runway and collided with a barbed wire fence. The owner of an aircraft wreckage retrieval firm, who also holds an FAA airframe and powerplant mechanics certificate, was present at the airport when the accident occurred. At the direction of the Safety Board, he examined the aircraft brake system within 10 minutes of the accident. He reported that the left brake disk was cold to the touch, while the right disk was hot. The left brake pedal was stiff and would not move with pressure applied, and the corresponding left brake calipers would not move. The aircraft owner moved the aircraft and repaired it before the brake system could be examined in detail. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 1996, at 1545 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N507TH, collided with a fence following a loss of directional control while landing at the Catalina Island airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by Flight International of Van Nuys, California, and was rented by the pilot for the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft and the airport boundary fence sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated at Van Nuys on the day of the accident at 1430 as a flight to the island. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that after touchdown on the runway the left brake failed and he lost directional control. The aircraft veered off the runway and collided with a barbed wire fence. The owner of an aircraft wreckage retrieval firm, who also holds an FAA airframe and powerplant mechanics certificate, was present at the airport when the accident occurred. At the direction of the Safety Board, he examined the aircraft brake system within 10 minutes of the accident. He reported that the left brake disk was cold to the touch, while the right disk was hot. The left brake pedal was stiff and would not move with pressure applied, and the corresponding left brake calipers would not move. The aircraft owner moved the aircraft and repaired it before the brake system could be examined in detail, and declined to produce the maintenance records. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N507TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N507TH), registered now, S/N 34-7250037, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7250037 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flight International - Registered owner: Hamid Navarchi - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 22, 1996 - Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA - Destination: AVX - Airport: AVX, Catalina, runway 22, 3,260 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; foreign, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,355 total, 39 in this make and model, 1,244 as pilot in command, 379 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960623014959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960623014959A), Jun 23, 1996: Piper PA34200, Avalon, CA, Substantial damage. Reported left brake failed on landing roll. Lost control. Collided with a fence. Left brake froze in off position. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.